lapin2008 1,587 Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 Hi All, A mate of mine is doing a study on non indigenous species in the British Isles for a degree he is doing in photography and has asked me if I know of any places where he could take some photos of feral wallabies in the UK. I have had a quick google and it seems to support that there are some colonies dotted about in various places that have become fairly sustainable in numbers (there is also however the usual press hype about reported sightings etc) has anyone seen any or know of any established feral colonies where he could go and take some decent photos of them in the 'natural' environment? thanks for looking Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mark@mbb 31 Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 There used to be a few around derbyshire you could google derbyshire wallabys i think they were hunted by trophy hunter pretending they were roos Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lapin2008 1,587 Posted February 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 Thanks mate, from what I have just read it looks like they have taken a right hammering in that area Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TUFFTY 1,484 Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 (edited) Documented colonies of red-necked wallabies exist in the United Kingdom. In Staffordshire, a breeding colony has established itself after breaking loose from a private zoo in Leek, Staffordshire in the 1930s.[5] Their population peaked in the 1970s, reaching numbers between 60 and 70. There were no confirmed sightings of the wallabies between 2000 and 2008, with some locals believing they must have died out. However, newspapers reported wallaby sightings in July 2009 (including clear pictures) and made reference to sightings in 2008. Other Wallaby colonies exist in the UK, including reliable reports from the Fenland on the Norfolk/Lincolnshire border; and there are a few in Ashdown Forest, Sussex. In Scotland, Inchconnachan, an island in Loch Lomond has a population of wallabies as well. Lady Arran Colquhoun introduced them in the 1920s.[6] http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&tbo=d&q=wallaby+colony+uk&revid=2128032642&sa=X&ei=eW8OUcfZDKu00QXi8YHADg&sqi=2&ved=0CHEQ1QIoAw&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=5ffe1ab5c2868a29&biw=1263&bih=873 Edited February 3, 2013 by TUFFTY Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lapin2008 1,587 Posted February 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 Documented colonies of red-necked wallabies exist in the United Kingdom. In Staffordshire, a breeding colony has established itself after breaking loose from a private zoo in Leek, Staffordshire in the 1930s.[5] Their population peaked in the 1970s, reaching numbers between 60 and 70. There were no confirmed sightings of the wallabies between 2000 and 2008, with some locals believing they must have died out. However, newspapers reported wallaby sightings in July 2009 (including clear pictures) and made reference to sightings in 2008. Other Wallaby colonies exist in the UK, including reliable reports from the Fenland on the Norfolk/Lincolnshire border; and there are a few in Ashdown Forest, Sussex. In Scotland, Inchconnachan, an island in Loch Lomond has a population of wallabies as well. Lady Arran Colquhoun introduced them in the 1920s.[6] http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&tbo=d&q=wallaby+colony+uk&revid=2128032642&sa=X&ei=eW8OUcfZDKu00QXi8YHADg&sqi=2&ved=0CHEQ1QIoAw&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=5ffe1ab5c2868a29&biw=1263&bih=873 thanks mate, I read that bit. the sightings were in 2009 and the impression i get is that sightings are very rare and not tied down to a certain area. I will look into it more thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TUFFTY 1,484 Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 Do a few searches mate that aint rare if you know where to look.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lepus 12 Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 I live in leek and I have only ever seen one wallaby on the roaches near leek that was in 1994 but there is still some on there they say Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lapin2008 1,587 Posted February 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 I live in leek and I have only ever seen one wallaby on the roaches near leek that was in 1994 but there is still some on there they say thanks mate thats the impression I am getting, I cant imagine with the numbers of them that are likely to be still around in that area that a trip down there would be fruitful. Maybe with a full week and lots of time spent looking for sign etc may get somewhere. I have had a quick look on some of the bird watching type forums and rambling etc and any sightings are pretty much few and far between Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lepus 12 Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 Yes mate maybe talk to some of the farmers around the area they will know we're they are most likely to be 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BazB 37 Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 always the isle of man, i know its a ferry journey away tho Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lapin2008 1,587 Posted February 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 always the isle of man, i know its a ferry journey away tho thanks i will look into it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
J Darcy 5,871 Posted February 4, 2013 Report Share Posted February 4, 2013 Tell him not to waste his time....they are very, very hard to photograph ......he will be at it years to get even a half-decent pic...... Even after spending days in places with the highest density of wallabys in the uk i have rarely seen them in the daytime... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lapin2008 1,587 Posted February 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2013 Tell him not to waste his time....they are very, very hard to photograph ......he will be at it years to get even a half-decent pic...... Even after spending days in places with the highest density of wallabys in the uk i have rarely seen them in the daytime... Thanks, Is that due to there not really being any significant numbers or just that they are very elusive? What are their movements like at night? would this be an option? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
J Darcy 5,871 Posted February 4, 2013 Report Share Posted February 4, 2013 its because they are so elusive...they make an otter look positively extrovert!! Photographing them at night isn't easy either...but i have done so on a number of occasions...... The time he will have to invest might not be worth while for just getting a photo. IMO to get a good snap you've got to do alot of travelling and become a bit obsessed with getting 'that' photo...... First he's got to find them......which ain't too easy let me tell you... then..... he's got to try and get near enough to take a snap.....and bare in mind these little hoppers sit in the tightest, thickest cover that they can find. ...it's just one big difficult scenario........but...if he likes a challenge.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lapin2008 1,587 Posted February 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2013 its because they are so elusive...they make an otter look positively extrovert!! Photographing them at night isn't easy either...but i have done so on a number of occasions...... The time he will have to invest might not be worth while for just getting a photo. IMO to get a good snap you've got to do alot of travelling and become a bit obsessed with getting 'that' photo...... First he's got to find them......which ain't too easy let me tell you... then..... he's got to try and get near enough to take a snap.....and bare in mind these little hoppers sit in the tightest, thickest cover that they can find. ...it's just one big difficult scenario........but...if he likes a challenge.... Thanks for that I may try and steer him down the trail cam route but it doesnt seem like photos of any particular quality are likely to be possible Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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